Turkey: June 20, 2021 – (TDI): The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi participated in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. He was invited by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. The forum was held from 18-20 June 2021. Antalya Diplomacy Forum was a three-day event, organized by the Turkish Foreign Ministery with the support of the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In this prestigious gathering of diplomatic professionals, Shah Mehmood Qureshi represented the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and met dignitaries for builiding the bilateral ties.
On his first day in Turkey, he met the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Iraq, Fuad Hussein. Both Foreign Ministers had met last month when Mr. Qureshi officially visited Iraq. They discussed several key topics in their meetings, including the Afghan Peace Process, the pressing Palestinian situation, and the bilateral relations between both states. Mr. Qureshi also expressed his desire to receive Mr. Hussein to Pakistan, in August.
The Pakistani Foreign Minister spent the following days socializing with different significant officials of various states. After his last meeting during the emergency session of #UNGA75 the previous month, Mr. Qureshi met his Palestinian counterpart, Dr. Riyad Al Maliki again on June 18, 2021. He reaffirmed Mr. Al Maliki of Pakistan’s persistent support for Palestine. Palestinians have the right to self-determination and other fundamental rights, he expressed.
Mr. Qureshi, later on, met the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Vice-President of the EU Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles. Discussions of regional and international affairs and Pakistan’s relation with the European Union were important aspects discussed in this formative meeting. The role of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan as a firm framework and base for multifaceted cooperation was signified by Mr. Qureshi. He accredited the GSP+ for its significant role in the progression of trade between the EU and Pakistan. He further expressed Pakistan’s enthusiasm for the implementation of GSP+ affiliated international conventions.
Mr. Qureshi shared Pakistan’s role in the Afghan Peace Process, acknowledged the EU’s support for Pakistan during its fight against covid19, and shed light on the severe human rights violations occurring in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He also emphasized the need for sufficient legal pathways for migration.
The next official to meet Mr. Qureshi was the Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. In this meeting, Mr. Qureshi reassured Dr. Abdullah of Pakistan’s policy of engagement with Afghan political leadership to develop strong bilateral relations and a better understanding of the Afghan Peace Process. He also expressed Pakistan’s hope for the progress of Intra-Afghan negotiations through the contribution of Afghan leadership.
Afterward, Mr. Qureshi met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Kamilov. In this meeting, they discussed the mutual importance of the Trans-afghan Railway Plan, for Uzbekistan and Pakistan. While discussing the arena of economic collaboration and connectivity, they highlighted the Transit Trade and Preferential Trade Agreements.
Then, Mr. Qureshi met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ruslan Kazak. They exchanged their views on bilateral economic, political, defense, commercial, and security relations. They both expressed their agreement on the significance of air and ground connectivity to enhance mutual trade. They both reiterated the importance of completing the CASA-1000 Transmission Line Project, on time.
Mr. Qureshi also met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the state of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. They agreed to enhance bilateral ties and to engage in regional and international issues. Mr. Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to support Intra-Afghan Negotiations with Qatar, which has played a formative role in the Afghan Peace Process.
The next day, on June 19, 2021, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi spoke on “Regional Cooperation in Asia” at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF). The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, Malaysia, and the Kyrgyz Republic; Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Abdulaziz Kamilov, Hishammuddin Hussein and Ruslan Kazakbaev, respectively also spoke at the forum. Mr. Qureshi amplified the global role of Asia as an economic hub. He shared that there is an urgent need for such platforms that highlight the need for fortifying regional cooperation. He expressed the necessity of enhancing regional relations in such an interlinked world, to facilitate economic growth.
Mr. Qureshi continued to socialize with various officials. He met the minister of foreign affairs of the state of Kuwait, Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah. He expressed Pakistan’s appreciation of Kuwait’s ease of visa restrictions for Pakistanis. Both ministers shared their views of boosting already strong bilateral relations and cooperation.
Mr. Qureshi then met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Hishammuddin Hussein. He expressed his intention of strengthening bilateral strategic partnership with Malaysia, in different domains such as defense, science, education, economy, trade, and technological fields. He further appreciated the Malaysian government for investing in the well-being of the Pakistani community, residing in Malaysia.
The next meeting, he had was with the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javad Zarif. They exchanged positive views about bilateral cooperation between both states, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) about border sustenance markets and establishing more border crossing points. Mr. Qureshi also discussed Pakistan’s role in Afghan Peace Process.
Mr. Qureshi then met the President and the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kosova, Vjosa Osmani and Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, respectively. Mr. Qureshi expressed Pakistan’s vision to work closely with the new leadership of Kosovo, to enhance bilateral ties between both states.
Mr. Qureshi had the last meeting of the day with his Afghan counterpart, Muhammed Haneef Atmar. They discussed establishing a trustable space that can boost bilateral relations, as well as the Afghan Peace Process. Mr. Qureshi expressed the need for a mutual political settlement to bring connectivity, stability and development to the region. Mr. Qureshi further shared his wish to welcome the Afghan Foreign Minister to Pakistan.
On June 20, 2021, the last day of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), Mr. Qureshi met Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. He congratulated the Turkish Foreign Minister, for organizing such a dynamic and stimulating diplomatic event, the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Both nations have essentially strong bilateral ties, shared Mr. Qureshi while expressing his delight to be a part of this forum. Their discussion also included the topics of the 7th Session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Turkey, 2021, and the recent developments of the Afghan Peace Process. He shared that Pakistan is hopeful for Afghan leadership to grasp the rare opportunity of bringing peace to Afghanistan, by settling through political negotiations.
After 14 bilateral meetings with several leaders of the world, various informal meetings, and several international and national media interviews, Mr. Qureshi finally finished his visit to Turkey on the eve of June 20, 2021.
